In mid-February, the Royals owners threw the East Crossroads a ninth inning curveball, announcing their desire to build a new ballpark in the footprint of the former Kansas City Star building rather than any of the previous locales that had been kicked around. The reaction from the community at large has been swift and mixed. It’s not only an extremely expensive proposal, estimated to cost more than $2 billion-plus, but also one that some say would change the character of a unique Kansas City arts and entertainment-focused neighborhood.
The masterminds behind the Crossroads proposal see it as adding another piece to an already vibrant downtown area, not far from the city’s convention center, the Kansas City Music Hall, the Power and Light District, the Kauffman Center and numerous hotels. Royals owners say the proposed stadium and surrounding infrastructure improvements would be paid with a combination of not-yet-determined taxes, tax breaks and private investment.
The Proposal
The 17.3-acre East Crossroads site, a six-block area, would be directly south of the T-Mobile Center, encompassing the former Kansas City Star building and sitting adjacent to Interstate 670. The plan’s footprint would stretch from Grand Boulevard to Locust Street and 18th Street to Truman Road. Along with the Star building, there are around 20 other property owners in the area, the next largest stakeholder being the Church of the Resurrection at 16th and Grand. The new ballpark would seat approximately 34,000 fans, about 3,000 less than “The K.” City planners are hoping that eventually new parks will be built above the sunken interstate, not only covering an eyesore, but also connecting many of these attractions and making it easier for people to move around. The Royals are hopeful it will be ready for the 2028 season.
Kansas City’s baseball legacy began at an inner-city ballpark, Municipal Stadium, located at the corner of Brooklyn Avenue and East 22nd Street. The minor league Kansas City Blues of the American Association and the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues played there initially. Various baseball and football teams called the Municipal Stadium home through the years, eventually giving way to the new Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums, which were ready for play in 1972 and 1973, respectively.
